Russian rape case: Final order on Fernandes' bail tomorrow

Even as the Crime Branch sought custodial interrogation of politician John Fernandes, accused in the Russian rape case, a local court today postponed the final order on his anticipatory bail petition for tomorrow.
       
The district and sessions judge U V Bakre this morning heard arguments in the anticipatory bail petition filed by John and adjourned the case for tomorrow evening as he was absent in the court.
       
John (34) is booked for raping 25-year-old Russian girl by spiking her drink when they were dining alongwith another Russian woman at Colva beach on the night of December one.
       
The Crime Branch pleading for custodial interrogation stated that material evidence required in the case is yet to be recovered from accused's car, where the girl was raped.
       
John is a high-profile politician from south Goa and had unsuccessfully contested the 2007 Goa Legislative Assembly election on 'Save Goa Front' political outfit floated by Public Works Department minister Churchill Alemao.

The victim, working as a representative for a five-star resort here, had suffered 13 bruise marks.
       
The girl, in her statement to the Crime Branch, said that John raped her in the car despite her struggle to get away.

The medical report had confirmed that there were no fresh hymen tear on victim.
       
The panel of doctors who conducted the medical test has preserved the vaginal swab, which will be sent for forensic examination at Hyderabad-based laboratory.

The victim was subjected to medical examination twice as the state police, who initially registered the case as attempt to rape, later made a turnaround and added rape section under Indian Penal Code to the case when it was transferred to Crime Branch.

Talking to PTI last evening, the victim said that she had met the accused through a common friend, who is working for a Russian trade exchange at Colva in south Goa.

She said that the accused, who volunteered to drop them back home on December 1 mid night had spiked her drinks by offering her a cocktail at a shack near Colva beach.

The accused reportedly dropped the other Russian girl to her place and later attempted to rape the victim by parking the car near an abandoned building at Benaulim village, next to Colva beach.
       
Milroy Antaon, the victim's boyfriend, said that John tried to influence him by offering money to withdraw the rape case or at least tone it down to outraging the modesty.

The Russian consulate has taken cognizance of this case after the victim communicated to them about the harassment meted out to her when she went to lodge a rape case at Colva police station.